United Kingdom > East Midlands > Private client
Agriculture and estates
Agriculture and estates
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1
- Hewitsons LLP Northampton
- Roythornes LLP Nottingham, Spalding
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2
- Arnold Thomson Towcester
- Langleys Lincoln
- Wilkin Chapman Epton Blades Lincoln
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3
- Chattertons Boston, Donington, Horncastle
- Rothera Dowson Nottingham
- Young & Pearce Nottingham
The team at Hewitsons LLP is ‘not only competent but also easy to deal with’. It handled acquisitions and disposals of agricultural property worth over £50m in 2010, with renewable energy projects and mineral leases also a feature. Gareth Williams is ‘excellent’.
Roythornes LLP delivers ‘top-end technical knowledge in a commercial manner’ through a strong team headed by the ‘very capable’ Vember Mortlock, who specialises in advising estate owners on strategic matters. Tom Foottit has ‘acknowledged expertise’ in the sale and purchase of farms; Simeon Disley is a ‘pre-eminent conveyancer’ for high-value land; and ‘superb agriculture and estates lawyer’ Graham Smith has a ‘broad knowledge base and a really thoughtful approach’.
Michael Thomson of Arnold Thomson covers the full range of matters, from tenancies to tax for landowners and farmers.
Langleys acts for tenant farmers, major landowners and farming businesses on partnership matters; land transactions; disputes (including succession applications); administration of estates; wind farm developments; and mineral rights. The ‘excellent, professional, informed, prompt and reliable’ Andrew Fearn leads a ‘very able team’, which includes ‘extremely thorough’ associate Francoise Vandale, a ‘very good communicator’.
The region’s sole NFU panel member, Wilkin Chapman Epton Blades offers partner-level advice on matters including family holdings; purchases (such as Sir Richard Sutton’s £5.2m purchase of Vale Farm Thoresway); diversification, including wind farms and anaerobic digestion plants; and agricultural tenancy arbitration.
At Chattertons, Rodney Blezard continues to act for leading landowners in the county and beyond, and acts for the Lincoln Diocesan Trust in relation to property matters. He and Roland Freeman completed several agricultural transactions in 2010, including sales in excess of £5m, and also handled various agricultural partnership matters, notably settling a multimillion-pound partnership dispute.
Neil Etherington leads on property matters for large agricultural estates at Rothera Dowson.
Young & Pearce’s experience includes agricultural property sales.
Charities
Charities
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1
- Browne Jacobson LLP Nottingham
- Hewitsons LLP Northampton
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2
- Freeth Cartwright LLP Derby, Leicester, Nottingham
- Nelsons Solicitors Limited Leicester, Nottingham
- Robinsons Derby
- Rothera Dowson Nottingham
Browne Jacobson LLP’s experienced team has assisted schools on conversions to trust and academy status, in addition to training trustees in the public and health sectors. In 2010 it advised The Ramblers’ Association on its conversion to a company limited by guarantee. William Colacicchi is ‘helpful and constructive, providing sensible advice’.
Hewitsons LLP attracts high praise from clients, and has recently been engaged in charity mergers and restructurings as well as advising non-charitable organisations such as social enterprises and public bodies on significant projects.
Freeth Cartwright LLP advises not-for-profit organisations such as The Woodland Trust and Crossroads Care, in areas such as strategies for mergers and negotiations with corporate sponsors. The team also handles contentious matters relating to trusts and legacies. It is praised for its commercial approach.
James Coningsby at Nelsons Solicitors Limited heads a cross-departmental group which advises trustees and senior managers of numerous charitable associations in strategic planning, dispute handling, and structuring matters.
Robinsons advises various religious, welfare and housing charities.
Jeremy Allen at Rothera Dowson assists a longstanding client base on constitutional and commercial matters.
Family
Family
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1
- DFA Law Northampton
- Freeth Cartwright LLP Nottingham
- John Hooper & Co Nottingham
- Rupert Bear Murray Davies Nottingham
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2
- Flint Bishop LLP Derby
- Harvey Ingram LLP Leicester
- Nelsons Solicitors Limited Leicester, Nottingham
- Rothera Dowson Nottingham
- Roythornes LLP Spalding
- Smith Partnership Derby, Leicester
- Wilkin Chapman Grimsby, Lincoln
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3
- Actons Nottingham
- Brigid Turner & Co Upper Boddington
- Chattertons Sleaford
- Howes Percival LLP Leicester
- Prince Family Law Chesterfield
- Robinsons Derby, Ilkeston
- Spearing Waite LLP Leicester
- Tollers LLP Corby, Kettering, Northampton
- Wilson Browne Leicester, Northampton, Wellingborough
- Woodford Robinson Northampton
At DFA Law, trained mediator Alan Kiddle continues to operate in the area of privately funded divorce. For publicly funded work, including care and children, new partner Prester Coleman has replaced Mike Saunders, who has retired.
Freeth Cartwright LLP is noted for its partner-led approach, and has recently advised on matters involving serious assault of a wife, and assets in Holland and South Africa. Judith Speed is a chair of the region’s Resolution group.
John Hooper & Co’s name partner has ‘lots of experience, good instincts, sound judgment, and will only fight a point if it is worth it but will then fight hard’. The five-strong team advises on complex matters involving international issues, trusts and offshore bank accounts.
Rupert Bear Murray Davies is widely recognised for its work on complex divorces, separations and children matters.
Flint Bishop LLP has significant experience at the higher end of ancillary relief proceedings involving business and trusts interests. Fiona Lazenby is ‘pragmatic, astute and sensible in her negotiations’.
Harvey Ingram LLP’s family practice was boosted in 2010 by the hire of new head Andrew Breakwell and two assistants from Clarke Willmott LLP in Birmingham, and the merger with South East firm Borneos. Sonia Bachu is the key figure in Leicester.
Nelsons Solicitors Limited’s team is led by the ‘excellent’ Caroline Elliott. In Leicester, ‘star in the making’ Lisa-Marie Darby works alongside two specialist childcare solicitors. The firm ‘has all the benefits of a large practice, but has successfully maintained the personal and individual touch’.
Rothera Dowson adopts a ‘top-quality’ collaborative approach to separation and divorce, and specialist children matters. Paul Cobb provides a ‘top-drawer service and is an understated, reassuring presence’; Lorna Sear deals with ancillary relief and is ‘sensitive but practical’; and Ann-Marie Bowman is ‘excellent for children matters: forceful but with a gentle touch.’
‘Helpful, diligent, competent and tenacious’, FILEX Nick Ingrey at Roythornes LLP is ‘every bit as capable as a number of smart London solicitors’.
Smith Partnership is distinguished by its holistic practice, offering a range of separation advice to public or privately funded clients, together with a specialist childcare department. Peter Dadswell is a ‘lovely knight in shining armour’, and Muctar Johal’s ‘commitment to his clients is outstanding’.
Wilkin Chapman’s team, headed by Lisa Boileau, handles mid to high-value matters, and includes qualified mediators and a collaborative lawyer.
Senior practitioner Michael Spencer at Actons operates at the higher end of ancillary relief claims, as well as children matters, and has a growing practice advising on pre-nuptial agreements.
‘Intelligent, professional and responsive’, Brigid Turner at Brigid Turner & Co provides a cost-effective alternative to City firms, handling complex, high-value matters.
Chattertons has several highly experienced practitioners, including practice head Eleanor Thornton.
Well-respected Leicester practitioner Jane Cowley joined Howes Percival LLP in 2010 to build up a family practice at the firm.
‘Highly experienced niche practice’ Prince Family Law has expanded its partner quotient to handle a growing volume of high-value instructions.
Fiona Apthorp at Robinsons is a seasoned practitioner.
Spearing Waite LLP has two partners experienced in ancillary relief requiring forensic financial investigations; and complex childcare matters. The firm was instructed on some 120 new matters in 2010.
Tollers LLP’ Sally Smith is recommended for divorce work involving complex financial issues; she can provide ‘a straightforward and clear assessment of what is possible and reasonable without wasting time and money’. Katie Herrod is ‘always responsive, very knowledgeable’.
Wilson Browne’s team provides comprehensive advice across the region.
Woodford Robinson is recognised for its legal aid practice.
Personal tax, trusts and probate
Personal tax, trusts and probate
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1
- Browne Jacobson LLP Nottingham
- Freeth Cartwright LLP Leicester, Nottingham
- Harvey Ingram LLP Leicester
- Hewitsons LLP Northampton
- Nelsons Solicitors Limited Derby, Leicester, Nottingham
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2
- Geldards LLP Derby, Nottingham
- Roythornes LLP Nottingham, Spalding
- Shakespeares Nottingham
- Shoosmiths Northampton
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3
- Actons Nottingham
- Chattertons Boston, Grantham, Horncastle, Lincoln, Newark, Spalding
- Langleys Lincoln
- Rothera Dowson Nottingham
- Tollers LLP Corby, Kettering, Northampton
- Wilkin Chapman Grimsby, Lincoln
- Wilson Browne Leicester, Northampton, Wellingborough
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- Flint Bishop LLP Derby
- Howes Percival LLP Leicester, Northampton
- Shacklocks Mansfield
- Smith Partnership Derby, Leicester
Browne Jacobson LLP excels in the structuring and reorganisation of trusts, and in contentious trusts and probate. Alan Radford and William Colacicchi obtained distribution of a £15m estate to next of kin in a high-profile contested estate case, while other work for the team included acting on the implementation of several innovative tax planning strategies.
‘Responsible, professional and very knowledgeable’, Freeth Cartwright LLP operates dedicated teams for trusts and personal tax, probate, private litigation, Court of Protection and financial services. Nigel Cullen has 40 years’ non-contentious experience. The ‘tenacious’ Mark Keeley is ‘constructive and outcome focused’.
Harvey Ingram LLP has a growing team whose recent work includes advising its mix of local SME-owner, business, and trusts clients on final salary pension schemes, tax planning matters, and variation of trusts. Mark Dunkley now heads the practice.
Hewitsons LLP specialises in inheritance tax planning, trust reorganisations, and complex estates. Recent successes include a substantial claim for inheritance tax exemption for gifts out of income. Clare Colacicchi’s team handles a significant number of £10m-plus estates, including assisting with complex claims for agricultural and business property tax relief.
Nelsons Solicitors Limited provides a partner-led, comprehensive service to individuals and trusts across probate, trust incorporation, Court of Protection matters, and investment and tax advice. Richard Grosberg is ‘extremely professional and sensitive, listens well, and is an excellent mediator’; and Jane Sutherland is ‘highly competent, and very experienced’.
The ‘personable, knowledgeable, efficient and sensitive’ Grace Steele, formerly of Flint Bishop LLP, has taken up the helm at Geldards LLP, where her team focuses on high-net-worth estates.
Roythornes LLP’s growing team is now headed by Jarred Wright, following Graham England’s retirement. It continues to provide an ‘excellent’ service to clients in the agricultural sector on tax and settlement matters affecting complex estates.
The ‘speedy, efficient and friendly’ team at Shakespeares delivers a ‘first-rate service’ concentrating on tax and succession planning. The ‘sympathetic, knowledgeable, efficient’ Jacqueline Lewis and ‘incisive’ John Pears recently advised on the implications of shari’ah law in relation to a disputed estate, and the formation of a community interest company in the context of a charitable trading entity.
Shoosmiths is a ‘blue-chip firm’ for private client issues: a ‘very professional set-up but highly focused on clients’ needs’. Trevor George is ‘very knowledgeable’ and ‘very good’ with high-net-worth clients.
Actons’ team, headed by Mandy Kelly, assists wealthy and elderly clients with estate, pension and tax planning.
Chattertons’ large team assists numerous private clients in Lincolnshire on wills, and tax and investment planning.
Langleys ‘offers strength throughout the team’, with the ‘experienced’ Andrew Fearn and ‘very focused and efficient’ David Wood singled out for praise.
Rothera Dowson administers over 200 estates and 115 trusts annually from its numerous regional offices.
Tollers LLP has two partners handling trust and estate administration.
Wilkin Chapman has four partners with experience in claims for IHT and business tax relief on high-value estates.
Wilson Browne’s large team includes partners qualified as Court of Protection panel deputies and notaries, and acts for numerous charities, trusts and private estates.
Flint Bishop LLP majors in will-writing through partnerships and its online service. Grace Steele moved to Geldards LLP in 2010.
Howes Percival LLP is building a new team under the leadership of Jane Cowley.
Shacklocks is active in wills and IHT planning in Derbyshire.
Smith Partnership has a highly experienced team that handles an increasing volume of wills.